Creamy Mushroom Spinach Orzo

By drinkfairy

This creamy, hearty orzo dish makes for the best vegetarian side dish ever! Loaded with mushrooms, spinach and freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the most amazing garlic Parmesan cream sauce. You can also add chicken and turn this into a main dish!

Ingredients

• 1cup1 cup orzo pasta
• 3tablespoons3 tablespoons olive oil
• 8ounces8 ounces cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 11 shallot, minced
• 33 garlic cloves, minced
• 1tablespoon1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 2tablespoons2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2cups1 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable broth
• 1/2cup1/2 cup half and half
• 1/2cup1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 3cups3 cups shredded baby spinach

Details

Servings 6
Preparation time 15mins
Cooking time 40mins
Adapted from damndelicious.net

Preparation

Step 1

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and shallot, and cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in garlic and thyme until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in vegetable broth, and cook, whisking constantly, until incorporated, about 1-2 minutes.

Stir in half and half and Parmesan, and cook, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Stir in orzo and spinach until the spinach has wilted, about 3 minutes.

Serve immediately.